Toronto/Tkaronto, ON | August  2025 – The federal government is seeking feedback from Canadians on the 2025 budget by August 28th, 2025. While the federal budget is typically released in April of a given year, the timing of the 2025 federal election pushed its release back, creating an opportunity for community service organizations to come together to draft a comprehensive submission of recommendations to advance climate justice. 14 of 17 members of Canada’s first, and newly established, youth climate policy network have offered 38 evidence-informed recommendations across the following areas: 

• Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
• Projects in the National Interest
• Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Relief
• Expanding Environmental Literacy and Environmental Research Mandates
• Jobs, Skills, and Training
• Capacity-Building for Community Service Organizations
• Supporting Psycho-Emotional Health and Social Cohesion
• Supporting Vital Social Services

The groups involved in this submission include: Shake Up The Establishment, The Starfish Canada, The Youth Harbour, Climate Hope Lab, Sustainable Youth Canada, Community Climate Council, Women’s Healthy Environments Network, Climate Justice Climatique UOttawa, Ritmos Climáticos, Solastalgia, Human Nature Projects Canada, Uptown Climate Conversations, Wilderness Committee and sword fern collective. 

“We as a collective believe that it is essential for the federal government to prioritize funding evidence-informed and community-focused policy solutions in the budget. The need to address climate change at a national level is urgent and essential. We as youth throughout so-called Canada stand by these thirty-eight recommendations,” says Anna Huschka, Shake Up The Establishment’s Director of Policy. 

Read the full list of recommendations here: tinyurl.com/ITSFederalBudget2025

About the Network

Created by Shake Up The Establishment in partnership with The Youth Harbour and The Starfish Canada, the Infiltrate the System (ITS) Network is a pan-Canadian network creating in-person and online spaces for youth-led climate justice activists to strategize effectively and collaborate on actions to increase public participation in democratic and policy processes to drive transformative change. More than a network, ITS Network is a movement–a space where youth can take bold action while prioritizing joy, rest and sustainability while inviting new youth to sustain an intergenerational movement. By breaking down systemic barriers to participation and creating a culture of support, ITS Network will help ensure youth-led climate organizing is impactful, inclusive and enduring. We invite youth organizers, allies, funders and policy-makers to join us in reshaping the landscape of youth-led climate action in Canada.

Contacts

• Asha Swann (She/Her), Director of Communications, Shake Up The Establishment, asha@shakeuptheestab.org

• Elaine Li (She/Her), Chief Operations Officer, Shake Up The Establishment, elaine@shakeuptheestab.org